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참회하다

A1 verb #8,000 가장 일반적인 8분 분량

참회하다

chamhoehada 상위 8,000

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 참회하다 30초 만에

설명 참회하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '참회하다' often, but it's good to know it means a 'very big sorry' or 'repenting'. Think of it as a word used in movies or church. You might see it in simple stories where a character feels very bad about a big mistake. It is a '하다' verb, so it follows the same rules as '공부하다' or '일하다'. For now, just remember: 참회 = Big Repentance.

At the A2 level, you can start to distinguish '참회하다' from '사과하다'. While '사과하다' is for saying sorry to a friend, '참회하다' is for serious things. You might see it in news headlines or dramas. It usually takes an object like '죄' (sin) or '잘못' (mistake). Example: '그는 잘못을 참회해요' (He repents his mistake). It’s a formal word, so use it carefully.

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By B1, you should understand the religious and formal nuances of '참회하다'. It is often used with '진심으로' (sincerely). You will encounter it in literature or more complex drama scripts. It implies a deep internal change. You can also use the noun form '참회' in phrases like '참회의 눈물' (tears of repentance). It's important to know that this isn't used for minor accidents like spilling water.

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At the B2 level, you should be able to use '참회하다' in formal writing or discussions about morality and ethics. You can compare it with synonyms like '반성하다' and '뉘우치다'. Understand that '참회' has a strong Buddhist and Christian connotation in Korea. In a legal context, it refers to a defendant's show of remorse, which is a specific legal concept in Korea called '반성하는 태도', but often described as '참회' in media.

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At the C1 level, you should master the literary use of '참회하다'. You might use it in an essay about history or philosophy. For example, discussing whether a nation has '참회했다' for its past war crimes. It carries a sense of collective or historical responsibility. You should also be familiar with the term '참회록' (confessions) and its place in world literature translated into Korean.

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At the C2 level, you understand the deep ontological implications of '참회하다'. It is not just about an action, but about the 'self' facing the 'absolute'. You can use it to discuss complex theological or philosophical themes in Korean. You understand its etymological roots (Hanja) and how those roots influence its usage in modern high-level discourse, such as political speeches or academic papers on ethics.

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연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

참회하다 30초 만에

A formal verb for deep repentance and moral regret.
Used in religious, legal, and literary contexts for serious sins.
Requires a sincere internal change, not just a verbal apology.
Rooted in Buddhist and Christian concepts of spiritual cleansing.

The Korean verb 참회하다 (cham-hoe-ha-da) is a profound term that goes far beyond a simple apology. It describes the act of deeply regretting one's past sins, mistakes, or moral failings and expressing a sincere desire for spiritual or ethical cleansing. While the English word 'repent' or 'confess' covers part of its meaning, 참회하다 carries a heavy weight of personal transformation and spiritual reckoning. It is most commonly found in religious, literary, or extremely formal contexts where an individual is facing the consequences of their actions on a soul-deep level.

Spiritual Weight: In Buddhist traditions, 참회 (repentance) is a core practice involving the recognition of bad karma and the commitment to change. It is not just about saying sorry to a person, but about aligning oneself with the truth of the universe.
Moral Gravity: When a public figure or a criminal uses this word, they are signaling that they recognize the fundamental wrongness of their nature at that moment, rather than just regretting a specific mistake.
Internal vs. External: Unlike '사과하다' (to apologize), which is a social transaction between two people, '참회하다' is an internal process of the heart and mind, often performed in solitude or before a divine presence.

그는 눈물을 흘리며 자신의 지난날을 참회했다.
— "He shed tears while repenting for his past days."

Historically, this word is rooted in the Hanja characters 懺 (repent) and 悔 (regret). The character 懺 (cham) specifically refers to the confession of sins in a religious context, while 悔 (hoe) denotes the feeling of remorse. Together, they form a powerful combination that suggests both the outward expression and the inward feeling of guilt. You will often encounter this word in historical K-dramas (사극) when a character is asking for forgiveness from the heavens or their ancestors, or in modern legal contexts where a defendant is showing 'sincere remorse' to the court.

진심으로 참회하는 마음이 제일 중요합니다.
— "A heart that truly repents is the most important thing."

It is important to note that you should not use 참회하다 for trivial matters. For instance, if you forgot to bring a friend's book back, using 참회하다 would sound overly dramatic or even sarcastic. It is reserved for life-altering realizations, religious confessions, or deep moral awakenings. It implies a total rejection of one's former self and a vow to live differently from that point forward.

Register and Nuance: Formal, Literary, Religious. It is rarely used in casual spoken Korean unless referencing a serious moral failure.

Using 참회하다 requires an understanding of its grammatical structures. As a '하다' verb, it can be conjugated into various forms depending on the level of politeness and the tense. However, because of its formal nature, it is most frequently seen in the formal-polite (-습니다) or the plain/written style (-ㄴ다).

그 죄인은 신 앞에서 자신의 죄를 참회했습니다.
— "The sinner repented his sins before God."

When constructing a sentence, the object of repentance is usually marked with the particle -을/를. Common objects include 죄 (sin), 잘못 (mistake/wrongdoing), 과거 (past), or 인생 (life). It is also common to see it used with the adverb 진심으로 (sincerely) to emphasize the depth of the feeling.

Common Subject-Verb Pairs: '죄를 참회하다' (to repent for sins), '과거를 참회하다' (to repent for the past), '진심으로 참회하다' (to sincerely repent).
Sentence Patterns: [Noun]을/를 참회하다: Repent [Noun].
[Person]에게 참회하다: Repent to [Person] (though less common than repenting 'before' someone).

In more complex sentences, you might see 참회하다 used in its noun form 참회 combined with other verbs like 참회의 눈물을 흘리다 (to shed tears of repentance) or 참회의 기도를 올리다 (to offer a prayer of repentance). These expressions add a poetic or dramatic layer to the writing.

매일 밤 그는 자신의 잘못을 참회하며 기도했다.
— "Every night, he prayed while repenting for his mistakes."

Note the use of -하며 (while doing) in the example above. This is a frequent pattern where the act of repenting occurs simultaneously with another spiritual or reflective act. It emphasizes that repentance is an ongoing state of mind rather than a one-time event.

In legal documents or news reports, you might see the phrase 피고인은 깊이 참회하고 있다 (The defendant is deeply repenting). Here, 깊이 (deeply) is used to quantify the level of remorse, which is a crucial factor in sentencing in the Korean legal system. This usage highlights the word's role in formal social and legal structures.

You are unlikely to hear 참회하다 in a casual conversation at a coffee shop, but it is a staple in specific environments. Understanding these contexts will help you grasp the 'vibe' of the word.

Religious Services: In Buddhist temples, '참회' is part of daily liturgy. In Christian churches, it is used during confession or periods of deep spiritual revival. You will hear phrases like "우리의 죄를 참회합시다" (Let us repent our sins).
Historical Dramas (Sageuk): Kings and queens in dramas often use this word when they realize their policies have caused suffering to the people, or when they are facing death. It adds a sense of epic gravity to their dialogue.
News and Media: When a high-profile criminal is caught, reporters often ask, "범행을 참회하십니까?" (Do you repent for your crime?). The use of this word here is meant to probe the suspect's moral state.

그는 참회록을 통해 자신의 잘못을 세상에 알렸다.
— "He informed the world of his mistakes through a 'Confession' (book)."

Another common place to see this word is in the title of books or essays. The most famous example is St. Augustine's 'Confessions', which is translated into Korean as 아우구스티누스의 참회록. This title sets a precedent for the word being associated with deep, autobiographical reflection on one's moral journey.

In modern literature, authors use 참회하다 to describe a character's internal monologue when they are grappling with guilt that they cannot share with others. It signifies a lonely, painful process of facing one's own darkness. If you read Korean novels, look for this word to identify a character's turning point or moment of epiphany.

Because English speakers often translate 'apologize', 'regret', and 'repent' similarly, several common mistakes occur when using 참회하다.

Overusing in Casual Situations: Mistake: Saying "늦어서 참회합니다" (I repent for being late).
Correction: Use "늦어서 죄송합니다" (I'm sorry I'm late). '참회' is too heavy for minor social lapses.
Confusing with '후회하다' (To Regret): Mistake: Using '참회하다' when you just wish you hadn't done something because it turned out badly for you.
Correction: '후회하다' is for wishing a different outcome; '참회하다' is for wishing you hadn't committed a moral wrong.
Incorrect Particles: Mistake: Using '참회하다' without an object when one is needed.
Correction: Usually, you need to specify '무엇을' (what) you are repenting, such as '죄를 참회하다'.

❌ 어제 술을 많이 마신 것을 참회해요.
✅ 어제 술을 많이 마신 것을 후회해요.
— "Repenting" for drinking too much sounds like you've committed a cardinal sin, whereas "regretting" it is a normal human reaction to a hangover.

Another mistake is using it interchangeably with 고백하다 (to confess). While both involve admitting something, 고백하다 is often used for romantic confessions (love) or simply stating a secret. 참회하다 always involves a sense of guilt and a desire for moral rectification. You wouldn't '참회' your love for someone; you would '고백' it.

Korean has several words for expressing regret or admitting fault. Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the nature of the act.

반성하다 (Ban-seong-ha-da): Self-reflection. This is the most common word for thinking about one's mistakes. Students write '반성문' (reflection papers) when they break school rules. It is less religious and more educational/social than 참회하다.
후회하다 (Hu-hoe-ha-da): Regret. This focuses on the outcome. "I regret buying this expensive phone." It doesn't necessarily imply that you did something morally wrong, just that you wish you hadn't done it.
사과하다 (Sa-gwa-ha-da): Apologize. This is the standard word for saying sorry to someone else. It is an interpersonal action.
뉘우치다 (Nwi-u-chi-da): To feel remorse. This is a pure Korean word (not Hanja-based like 참회) that is very close in meaning. It is often used in the context of a child realizing they were wrong or a criminal feeling remorse. It feels slightly more emotional and less formal than 참회하다.

뉘우침과 참회의 차이
뉘우치다 is more about the internal feeling of remorse, while 참회하다 often includes the formal or ritualistic act of expressing that remorse.

When deciding which to use, consider the 'audience'. If you are talking to a friend, use 사과하다. If you are talking to yourself about a bad choice, use 후회하다. If you are writing a deep, philosophical diary entry about your life's direction, 참회하다 might be appropriate.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

While now used in both Buddhism and Christianity, the word was originally popularized in East Asia through Buddhist sutras. The character 懺 is actually quite rare outside of this specific word.

발음 가이드

UK tɕʰam.ɦwe.ɦa.da

US tɕʰam.ɦwe.ɦa.da

Primary stress is on the first syllable '참' (Cham).

라임이 맞는 단어

후회하다 (hu-hoe-ha-da) 오해하다 (o-hae-ha-da) 항해하다 (hang-hae-ha-da) 대화하다 (dae-hwa-ha-da) 양해하다 (yang-hae-ha-da) 동의하다 (dong-ui-ha-da) 주의하다 (ju-ui-ha-da) 기회 (gi-hoe)

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing '참' like 'Cham' in 'Champion'. It should be a more aspirated 'Ch'.
Merging '회' (hoe) into '헤' (he). Keep the 'w' sound distinct.
Dropping the 'h' in 'hada'. Ensure 'hada' is clearly attached.
Pronouncing '참' with a short vowel; it is often naturally slightly elongated in formal speech.
Confusing the 'o' and 'e' sounds in 'hoe'.

난이도

독해 4/5

Common in literature and news, but the Hanja is complex.

쓰기 5/5

Requires understanding of formal register to use correctly.

말하기 5/5

Rarely used in daily speech; sounds dramatic if misused.

듣기 4/5

Found in dramas and religious sermons.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

미안하다 잘못 죄 사과하다 반성하다

다음에 배울 것

속죄하다 구원 윤리 도덕 성찰

고급

고해성사 메타노이아 업보 인과응보

알아야 할 문법

하다 Verbs

참회하다, 공부하다, 일하다 follow the same conjugation patterns.

Object Marker 을/를

죄를 참회하다 (Repent a sin).

Adverbial -하며

참회하며 기도하다 (Pray while repenting).

Noun-modifying -는

참회하는 사람 (A person who repents).

Honorific -으시다

신부님께서 참회하셨다 (The priest repented - honorific).

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수준별 예문

그는 참회해요.

He repents.

Simple present tense.

저는 참회하고 싶어요.

I want to repent.

-고 싶다 (want to).

잘못을 참회하세요.

Please repent for your mistake.

-으세요 (polite command).

우리는 참회했습니다.

We repented.

Past tense.

그는 참회하지 않아요.

He does not repent.

-지 않다 (negation).

진심으로 참회해요.

I sincerely repent.

Adverb + Verb.

참회하는 사람.

A person who repents.

Noun modifying form.

참회는 중요해요.

Repentance is important.

Noun + Topic marker.

그는 자신의 죄를 참회했습니다.

He repented for his sins.

Object marker 을/를.

매일 밤 참회하며 기도해요.

I pray every night while repenting.

-하며 (while doing).

참회하는 마음이 필요합니다.

A repenting heart is needed.

Formal polite style.

그녀는 눈물로 참회했어요.

She repented with tears.

Particle -로 (with/by).

잘못을 참회하고 새사람이 되세요.

Repent your mistakes and become a new person.

-고 (and) connector.

그는 과거를 참회하고 있습니다.

He is repenting for his past.

-고 있다 (present progressive).

누구나 참회할 수 있어요.

Anyone can repent.

-ㄹ 수 있다 (can).

참회하면 마음이 편해져요.

If you repent, your heart becomes peaceful.

-면 (if) conditional.

그는 참회의 눈물을 흘리며 사과했다.

He apologized while shedding tears of repentance.

Noun form + possessive 의.

진정한 참회는 행동으로 보여줘야 한다.

True repentance must be shown through actions.

-아야 한다 (must).

그는 죽기 전에 모든 것을 참회했다.

He repented for everything before he died.

-기 전에 (before doing).

그의 참회는 너무 늦었을지도 모른다.

His repentance might be too late.

-을지도 모른다 (might).

법정에서 그는 깊이 참회하는 모습을 보였다.

In court, he showed a deeply repenting appearance.

Adverb + noun-modifying verb.

종교적인 참회는 영혼을 맑게 한다.

Religious repentance clears the soul.

Plain style -ㄴ다.

그는 참회하는 마음으로 봉사 활동을 시작했다.

He started volunteer work with a repenting heart.

-는 마음으로 (with a heart that...).

참회할 기회를 놓치지 마세요.

Don't miss the opportunity to repent.

-지 마세요 (don't).

그의 자서전은 일종의 참회록과 같았다.

His autobiography was like a kind of 'Confession'.

-와 같다 (to be like).

피고인이 범행을 진심으로 참회하고 있는지 의문이다.

It is questionable whether the defendant is truly repenting the crime.

-는지 의문이다 (it is a question whether...).

그는 평생을 참회하며 살기로 결심했다.

He decided to live his whole life repenting.

-기로 결심하다 (decide to).

역사적 과오에 대해 일본은 참회해야 한다.

Japan must repent for its historical errors.

-에 대해 (about).

참회는 단순히 미안하다고 말하는 것이 아니다.

Repentance is not simply saying sorry.

-는 것이 아니다 (it is not that...).

그는 참회의 고해성사를 하러 성당에 갔다.

He went to the cathedral to make a confession of repentance.

-하러 가다 (go to do).

그녀의 참회는 많은 사람들에게 감동을 주었다.

Her repentance moved many people.

Noun + topic marker.

참회하지 않는 삶은 발전이 없다.

A life without repentance has no progress.

Negative noun-modifying form.

그의 글은 구구절절 자신의 지난 삶을 참회하는 내용이었다.

Every single phrase of his writing was content repenting for his past life.

Idiom '구구절절' (every word/phrase).

인간은 참회를 통해 비로소 도덕적 주체로 거듭난다.

Humans finally are reborn as moral subjects through repentance.

Advanced particle '비로소' (finally/at last).

그 정치인은 참회하는 척만 할 뿐 진정성이 없다.

That politician only pretends to repent and lacks sincerity.

-는 척하다 (to pretend).

참회와 속죄의 과정은 고통스럽지만 필수적이다.

The process of repentance and atonement is painful but essential.

Formal conjunction '및' or '와/과'.

그는 자신의 오만을 참회하며 낮은 자세로 임했다.

He repented his arrogance and approached things with a humble attitude.

Metaphorical '낮은 자세'.

역사의 법정에서 우리는 모두 참회자가 될 수밖에 없다.

In the court of history, we cannot help but become repentants.

-을 수밖에 없다 (cannot help but).

참회하는 마음 없이 드리는 기도는 공허할 뿐이다.

Prayers offered without a repenting heart are merely hollow.

Adverbial '없이' (without).

그는 참회의 고통을 이겨내고 새로운 삶을 개척했다.

He overcame the pain of repentance and carved out a new life.

Verbal phrase '개척하다' (to pioneer).

참회는 인간 존재의 유한성과 불완전성을 인정하는 숭고한 행위이다.

Repentance is a sublime act of acknowledging the finitude and imperfection of human existence.

Abstract philosophical nouns.

종교적 참회의 본질은 신과의 관계 회복에 있다.

The essence of religious repentance lies in the restoration of the relationship with God.

-에 있다 (to lie in/be in).

그의 참회록은 당대 지식인들에게 커다란 윤리적 파장을 일으켰다.

His confessions caused a huge ethical ripple among the intellectuals of the time.

Advanced verb '일으키다' (to cause/trigger).

진정한 참회란 과거의 자신을 부정하고 새로운 존재로 이행하는 것이다.

True repentance is the negation of one's past self and the transition to a new being.

-란 ... 것이다 (definition pattern).

참회하지 않는 권력은 필연적으로 부패와 몰락의 길을 걷게 된다.

Power that does not repent inevitably walks the path of corruption and downfall.

Adverb '필연적으로' (inevitably).

그는 참회의 심연 속에서 구원의 빛을 발견했다.

He discovered the light of salvation within the abyss of repentance.

Metaphorical '심연' (abyss).

참회는 자기 기만으로부터 벗어나는 첫걸음이다.

Repentance is the first step in escaping from self-deception.

-로부터 벗어나다 (escape from).

우리는 조상들의 과오를 대신 참회하며 평화의 시대를 열어야 한다.

We must repent for our ancestors' errors on their behalf and open an era of peace.

Adverbial '대신' (instead/on behalf of).

자주 쓰는 조합

진심으로 참회하다

죄를 참회하다

눈물로 참회하다

깊이 참회하다

참회의 눈물

참회의 기도

참회록을 쓰다

과거를 참회하다

참회의 시간

참회할 길

자주 쓰는 구문

참회의 눈물을 흘리다

— To shed tears of repentance. Used when someone is moved to cry by their guilt.

그는 참회의 눈물을 흘리며 용서를 구했다.

참회록을 남기다

— To leave a written record of one's confessions or regrets.

유명한 정치인이 죽기 전 참회록을 남겼다.

참회하는 심정으로

— With a feeling of repentance. Used to describe the motivation behind an action.

참회하는 심정으로 봉사 활동을 하고 있습니다.

참회의 기회를 주다

— To give someone a chance to repent.

법은 그에게 참회의 기회를 주기로 했다.

참회와 반성

— Repentance and reflection. Often used together to emphasize thorough regret.

우리는 참회와 반성의 시간을 가져야 합니다.

참회의 고해

— A confession of repentance, usually religious.

신부님 앞에서 참회의 고해를 했다.

진정한 참회

— True/Sincere repentance.

진정한 참회는 행동의 변화를 동반한다.

참회하며 살다

— To live while repenting. Implies a lifelong commitment to atonement.

그는 평생을 참회하며 살았다.

참회의 노래

— A song of repentance.

그 가수는 참회의 노래를 불러 대중의 마음을 울렸다.

참회의 불길

— The flame of repentance. A literary expression for intense remorse.

가슴 속에서 참회의 불길이 타올랐다.

자주 혼동되는 단어

참회하다 vs 참외

This is a type of oriental melon. The pronunciation is similar, but '참회' has a distinct 'h' sound.

참회하다 vs 사과

Means 'apple' or 'apology'. As an apology, it is much lighter than '참회'.

참회하다 vs 고백

Means 'confession', but often refers to love or secrets, not necessarily sins.

관용어 및 표현

"참회의 눈물은 영혼을 씻는다"

— Tears of repentance wash the soul. Regret leads to purification.

참회의 눈물은 영혼을 씻는다고 하니, 마음껏 우세요.

Literary

"늦은 참회"

— Late repentance. Regret that comes after the damage is irreversible.

그의 늦은 참회는 아무런 도움도 되지 않았다.

Neutral

"참회 없는 용서"

— Forgiveness without repentance. A philosophical/ethical dilemma.

참회 없는 용서가 가능한가에 대한 논쟁이 있었다.

Academic

"참회의 절"

— A bow of repentance. Specifically referring to the 108 bows in Buddhism.

그는 매일 새벽 참회의 절을 올린다.

Religious

"참회의 고통"

— The pain of repentance. The mental anguish of facing one's sins.

그는 참회의 고통 속에서 밤을 지새웠다.

Literary

"참회의 늪"

— The swamp of repentance. Feeling stuck in guilt.

그는 참회의 늪에 빠져 헤어나오지 못했다.

Literary

"참회의 꽃"

— The flower of repentance. A metaphor for something good coming from regret.

고통 끝에 참회의 꽃이 피어났다.

Poetic

"참회의 길을 걷다"

— To walk the path of repentance. To live a life of atonement.

그는 남은 생을 참회의 길을 걷기로 했다.

Neutral

"참회의 문"

— The door of repentance. The starting point of change.

이제 참회의 문을 열고 나아가야 할 때입니다.

Literary

"참회의 열매"

— The fruit of repentance. The positive results of repenting.

그는 참회의 열매로 평화를 얻었다.

Religious

혼동하기 쉬운

참회하다 vs 반성하다

Both involve looking back on mistakes.

'반성' is more about logical reflection and learning, while '참회' is about spiritual guilt and deep remorse.

아이들은 반성문을 썼고, 죄인은 죄를 참회했다.

참회하다 vs 후회하다

Both express a wish that something hadn't happened.

'후회' is about the result (I wish I didn't lose money), while '참회' is about the moral act (I wish I didn't steal).

주식 투자를 후회하다 vs 죄를 참회하다.

참회하다 vs 뉘우치다

Synonyms for remorse.

'뉘우치다' is pure Korean and feels more emotional/personal; '참회하다' is Hanja-based and feels more formal/religious.

잘못을 뉘우치는 아이 vs 죄를 참회하는 신자.

참회하다 vs 회개하다

Both mean 'to repent'.

'회개하다' is almost exclusively used in Christian contexts. '참회하다' is broader and can be Buddhist or general.

교회에서 회개하다 vs 절에서 참회하다.

참회하다 vs 자백하다

Both involve admitting something.

'자백하다' is specifically admitting a fact/crime to an authority (police). '참회하다' is the internal feeling of regret.

범행을 자백하다 vs 잘못을 참회하다.

문장 패턴

저는 [Noun]을/를 참회해요.

저는 잘못을 참회해요.

[Noun]을/를 참회하고 있습니다.

과거를 참회하고 있습니다.

진심으로 [Noun]을/를 참회합니다.

진심으로 죄를 참회합니다.

[Noun]을/를 참회하며 [Verb].

잘못을 참회하며 살아요.

[Noun]에 대해 깊이 참회하다.

역사적 과오에 대해 깊이 참회하다.

참회는 [Noun]의 첫걸음이다.

참회는 영혼 정화의 첫걸음이다.

참회의 [Noun].

참회의 눈물.

[Noun]을/를 참회할 줄 알다.

자신의 죄를 참회할 줄 알아야 한다.

어휘 가족

명사

참회 (懺悔) Repentance, confession.

참회록 (懺悔錄) A book of confessions; memoirs of repentance.

참회자 (懺悔者) A person who repents; a penitent.

동사

참회하다 (懺悔--) To repent, to confess.

형용사

참회하는 Repenting (present participle form).

사용법

frequency

Medium overall, but High in specific domains like religion and law.

자주 하는 실수

Using '참회하다' for being late to a meeting. → 지각해서 죄송합니다.
참회하다 is for moral sins, not minor social tardiness.
Using '참회하다' for a romantic confession. → 사랑을 고백하다.
고백 is for secrets/love; 참회 is for guilt/sins.
Using the wrong particle: '죄에게 참회하다'. → 죄를 참회하다.
The sin is the object of the repentance, so use the object marker.
Confusing '참회' with '참외'. → 참외를 먹다 (Eat a melon) / 죄를 참회하다 (Repent a sin).
These sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Thinking '참회' and '반성' are identical. → Depends on context.
반성 is self-reflection; 참회 is deep spiritual repentance.

팁

Context Matters

Only use this word in serious, life-altering, or religious situations to maintain its proper weight.

Learn the Noun

The noun '참회' is very common in phrases like '참회의 눈물' (tears of repentance).

Transitive Verb

Always try to specify *what* you are repenting using the 을/를 particle.

Bowing

In Korea, deep bowing is often associated with the act of '참회'.

Drama Clues

When you hear this word in a K-drama, look for themes of redemption or deep guilt.

Literary Style

In novels, this word is used to show a character's internal struggle with their past.

Clear 'H'

Make sure the 'h' in 'hoe' and 'hada' is audible to avoid confusion with other words.

Courtroom Context

Notice how lawyers use this word to argue for a lighter sentence for their clients.

True Regret

Think of 'Cham' as 'True' and 'Hoe' as 'Regret' to remember the meaning.

Not Just 'Sorry'

Always remember that '참회' is much deeper than a simple 'sorry'.

암기하기

기억법

Think of a 'CHAM-pion' who 'HOE-s' (digs) through their heart to find mistakes. They 'CHAM-HOE' to become a better person.

시각적 연상

Imagine a person kneeling in a dark temple, holding a candle, with the characters 懺 (Repent) and 悔 (Regret) glowing above them.

Word Web

죄 (Sin) 용서 (Forgiveness) 눈물 (Tears) 종교 (Religion) 과거 (Past) 마음 (Heart) 변화 (Change) 기도 (Prayer)

챌린지

Try to write a short diary entry about a time you felt deep regret, using the word '참회하다' instead of '미안하다'.

어원

Derived from Hanja (Sino-Korean characters). 懺 (참) means 'to repent/confess' and 悔 (회) means 'to regret'.

원래 의미: The term originated in Buddhist texts to translate the Sanskrit word 'Kshama', which refers to asking for forgiveness and acknowledging one's faults to purify karma.

Sino-Korean (Hanja-based).

문화적 맥락

Be careful when using this word with friends; it can sound like you are being overly dramatic or mocking the seriousness of religious practice unless the situation is truly grave.

English speakers might use 'repent' primarily in religious contexts, whereas in Korea, '참회' can appear in legal and highly formal social contexts as well.

Confessions (참회록) by St. Augustine Confessions (참회록) by Jean-Jacques Rousseau Tolstoy's A Confession (참회록)

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Religious Settings

죄를 참회합니다
참회의 기도
참회합시다
진심으로 참회하십시오

Legal/Court

깊이 참회하고 있다
참회의 눈물
참회하는 태도
범행을 참회하다

Literature/Books

참회록
지난날을 참회하다
참회의 심연
영혼의 참회

Historical Dramas

하늘에 참회하다
조상님께 참회하다
소인의 죄를 참회하나이다
참회할 기회를 주소서

Personal Reflection

나의 삶을 참회하다
참회하는 마음으로
스스로 참회하다
참회의 눈물을 흘리다

대화 시작하기

"과거의 잘못을 참회해 본 적이 있나요?"

"진정한 참회란 무엇이라고 생각하세요?"

"참회록이라는 책을 읽어본 적이 있나요?"

"잘못을 참회하는 것이 왜 중요할까요?"

"참회와 사과의 차이점은 무엇일까요?"

일기 주제

내가 인생에서 가장 참회하고 싶은 순간에 대해 써보세요.

참회하는 마음이 나의 행동을 어떻게 변화시킬 수 있을까요?

누군가에게 참회하고 싶지만 하지 못한 말이 있나요?

참회록을 쓴다면 어떤 제목을 붙이고 싶나요?

사회적 참회가 필요한 역사적 사건에 대해 자신의 생각을 정리해 보세요.

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

It is usually too formal. If you did something truly terrible that broke her heart, you might use it in a letter. For daily mistakes, use '죄송합니다'.

No, it is used in law and literature too. However, it always carries a 'weight' similar to religious repentance.

It is a book or written record where someone confesses their past wrongs and reflects on their life. St. Augustine's 'Confessions' is the most famous example.

It sounds like 'hwe'. Make sure the 'w' sound is there, like in 'wet'.

'참회' is a noun. '참회하다' is the verb form. You can use both.

No, it would sound very strange or sarcastic. Stick to '사과하다' or '미안하다' for small things.

'반성' is for self-improvement and daily reflection. '참회' is for deep moral or spiritual guilt.

While the usage is complex, the basic meaning of 'being very sorry' is fundamental. In this API, we introduce it early so you can recognize it in dramas.

Yes, true '참회' always includes the intention to change and not repeat the mistake.

You would say '참회합니다' (Cham-hoe-ham-ni-da).

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